CONTROVERSY IN NORTHWEST
WISCONSIN.
THAT'S WHERE AN IOWA-BASED
COMPANY IS TRYING TO BUILD WHAT
WOULD BE THE LARGEST HOG
FACILITY IN THE STATE.
OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES
CONCENTRATED FEEDING ANIMAL
OPERATIONS LIKE THIS ONE HAVE
INCREASED THREEFOLD AND AND
COMMUNITIES ARE GRAPPLING WITH
HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM.
>> IT'S ONLY COMPLETE AS THE
NUMBERS BECAUSE IT'S TWO
DIFFERENT SETS OF NUMBERS.
>> RAMONA MOODY SPENT HER SUMMER
DOING RESEARCH.
>> THIS IS BURNETT COUNTY.
AND THIS SECTION HERE IS TRADE
LAKE TOWNSHIP.
AND WHERE THIS ARROW IS POINTING
TO IS THE PROPOSED 26,350 HOG
CAFO.
>> SHE LIVES ON FIVE ACRES OF
LAND WITH HER HUSBAND.
>> WE'VE RAISED OUR FAMILY HERE.
HAD THREE KIDS.
WE LOVE THE SETTING.
WE'VE GOT THE GARDEN.
WE'VE DONE ANIMALS.
WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR 30 YEARS AND
WE WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
>> BUT A PROPOSAL TO BUILD A
26,000 HEAD HOG FACILITY IS
THREATENING THAT WAY OF LIFE.
SO SHE'S BEEN RESEARCHING THE
INS AND OUTS OF CAFOS.
>> WORD OF THE PROPOSAL FIRST
CAME AT A TOWN BOARD MEETING AND
INTENTIONS OF A SWINE OPERATION.
>> WE WERE LOOKING AT THEIR
TOWNSHIP IN JANUARY OF THIS
YEAR.
IT WAS MY DESIRE TO BE
TRANSPARENT AND DISCUSS AND
DISCLOSE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
DOING.
>> I'M THINKING THAT HE WAS
PROBABLY HOPING THAT WE WERE A
SLEEPY COMMUNITY, WHERE THEY
COULD JUST MOVE IN, IT WOULD BE
HERE AND WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO
RESIST BECAUSE IT WAS TOO LATE.
>> THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED IN
JUNE.
>> RAMONA MOODY STARTED HAVING
CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER
RESIDENTS IN OPPOSITION.
>> WELL, IT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL
FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
>> LIKE ANDY MARSHALL.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS
IS GOING TO BE, IF NOT THE
LARGEST, ONE OF THE LARGEST HOG
CAFOS IN THE STATE.
THERE ISN'T ANYTHING LIKE THIS
IN THIS AREAN AREA, IN THIS COUNTY,
AND IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE
SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS, IMPACTS ON PROPERTY
VALUES AND POTENTIAL HEALTH
IMPACTS.
SO IT'S A BIG DEAL.
>> THE TRADE LAKE AREA HAS A
HISTORY OF FARMING, BUT THERE'S
BEEN A STEADY DECLINE OF
AGRICULTURE AND A SHIFT TOWARD
TOURISM.
ANNUAL HOME SALES HAVE SHOT UP
330% IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.
THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
REVENUE HAS FOUND THAT
PROPERTIES CLOSE TO CAFOs LOSE
VALUE.
>> THE STATEMENTS THAT WE'VE
HEARD IS IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN
THAT THIS WAS COMING IN, I WOULD
NEVER HAVE BOUGHT.
>> THIS MAP IS THE WATERSHED FOR
TRADE LAKE.
BOTH BIG TRADE AND LITTLE TRADE
ARE ON THE IMPAIRED WATERS LIST
FOR HIGH PHOSPHORUS ALREADY.
>> ALL OPERATIONS MUST APPLY FOR
A PERMIT WITH THE WISCONSIN
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
TO PROTECT NEARBY WATERS.
ADDITIONALLY, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
CAN CHOOSE TO ADOPT STRICT ER
REGULATIONS OVER ODOR, WASTE
STORAGE AND RUNOFF.
>> THEY WANT MORE DETAILS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE
STILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE
REQUIREMENTS.
>> WHAT I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT
IS OUR WATER.
>> DOROTHY RICHARDS IS ON THE
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND
REPRESENTS THE TRADE LAKE AREA.
>> IN MAY I STARTED GETTING
CALLS FROM PEOPLE IN TRADE LAKE.
>> FROM THERE, BURNETT COUNTY
PASSED A MORATORIUM ON ANY NEW
FACILITIES LIKE THIS ONE FROM
BEING BUILT.
>> IT PUTS A HALT ON ANY FURTHER
CAFOs UNTIL THE COUNTY CAN
STUDY IT.
>> THE YEAR-LONG MORATORIUM IS
TO DECIDE IF ADDITIONAL LOCAL
ORDINANCES ARE REQUIRED TO
PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
IN BURNETT COUNTY AS WELL AS
DETERMINE WHERE THE COUNTY HAS
ENOUGH RESOURCES TO MONITOR AND
ENFORCE RULES.
BUT THE MORATORIUM DOESN'T APPLY
TO JEFF SAUER'S APPLICATION.
>> SO THEY SUBMITTED THEIR
APPLICATION SHORTLY BEFORE THE
VOTE WAS TO TAKE PLACE AT THE
COUNTY.
>> PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING TO
SUPPORT THE SITING OF THE CAFO
IN THIS AREA SAY THAT THESE
ISSUES ARE NOT A CONCERN, THAT
THEY WON'T MATERIALIZE IN
HAMPLE.
BUT THE FACT IS NOBODY KNOWS
THAT RIGHT NOW.
SO THE REASONABLE RESPONSE WOULD
BE TO FIND OUT IF THESE THINGS
ARE GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.
>> THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THIS
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED
LIVESTOCK FACILITY SITING RULES.
>> RECENTLY THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE HELD A SERIES OF
PUBLIC HEARINGS ABOUT THE RULES,
WHICH SOME FARMERS SAY ARE TOO
RESTRICTIVE.
IT FORCES THEM TO GROW IN SIZE
IN ORDER TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
>> IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE
HAVE SPENT $3 MILLION TO MEET
THE REGULATIONS THAT THEY WANT
US TO MEET.
THAT $3 MILLION, YOU HAVE TO PAY
FOR IT SOMEHOW.
AND HOW DO PEOPLE PAY FOR IT?
IT REQUIRES YOU TO EXPAND.
>> IT'S PUTTING FAMILY FARMS OUT
OF BUSINESS.
>> THE THING THAT PEOPLE DON'T
THINK ABOUT IS A FAMILY CAN'T
SUSTAIN THAT, THOSE COSTS,
WHEREAS THE BIG BOYS, IT'S NO
PROBLEM FOR THEM.
>> FARMERS WANT THE RIGHT TO
FARM, BUT RESIDENTS WANT THE
RIGHT TO ENJOY THEIR LAND.
DIEDIANE AND STEVE PASNO LIVE IN
WATERTOWN AND SPOKE TO THEIR
EXPERIENCE OF LIVING NEXT TO A
CAFO.
>> YOU'RE IMPEDING FROM ENJOYING
THE NATURALNESS OF OUR PROPERTY
DUE TO THE ODORS, FROM UK WING WALKING
THE ROADS AND SIMPLY LIVE OUR
LIVES.
>> OUR DREAM OF LIVING THE
PICTURESQUE LIFE HAS BEEN
SHATTERED.
COUPLED WITH LOCAL, STATE AND
FEDERAL GOVERNMENTAL BODIES'
UNRESPONSIVENESS HAS DEVASTATED
OUR CURRENT HOME LIFE.
>> RESIDENTS OF TRADE LAKE ARE
WORRIED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN TO
THEM.
BECAUSE WITNESS IS A RIGHT TO
FARM STATE, IT'S DIFFICULT TO
BRING LAWSUITS AGAINST FARMERS.
>> WE WANT TO BE A GOOD
NEIGHBOR, GOOD TO THE COMMUNITY
AND GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE IN
GENERAL.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS NOT
RECEIVED THAT WAY.
>> GOOD NEIGHBORS.
IN A RURAL COMMUNITY, IT'S ALL
ABOUT KNOWING YOUR NEIGHBORS.
AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF
ANXIETY IS COMING FROM.
THEY DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHO
THEIR NEW NEIGHBOR WILL BE AND
THIS IS WHERE IT GETS CON
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
>> YOU SAID YOU'RE A CON FULT
ANT?
>> WELL, I AM.
I WILL BE PART OWNER OF THAT
SITE AS WELL.
>> JEFF SAUER RECENTLY TESTIFIED
IN A DEPOSITION THAT HE'S
ESSENTIALLY ON A CONTINGENT FEE
ARRANGEMENT WITH CUMBERLAND LLC
WHERE HE'S DOING WHATEVER HE CAN
TO GET THIS FACILITY SITED, BUT
HE'S NOT GOING TO GET PAID
UNLESS IT'S UP AND RUNNING.
>> THE DNR SAYS PERMITS ARE
ISSUED TO CUMBERLAND, BUT IT
ISN'T OWNED BY JEFF SAUER, BUT A
MAJOR HOG PRODUCER OUT OF IOWA.
>> I'VE LOOKED AT SOME OF THE
DOCUMENTS FOR THE LLC THAT HAVE
BEEN FILED WITH THE STATE, AND
MY UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE
DOCUMENTS IS THAT THEY REFLECT
THAT THE OWNERS ARE AFFILIATED
WITH AN OUTFIT CALLED SUIDAE.
>> IT'S A MANAGEMENT
VETERINARIAN COMPANY, HEALTH AND
PRODUCTION.
THEY'RE NOT TECHNICALLY OWNERS
OF SWINE.
SO THEY BASICALLY HAVE A
CLIENTELE THAT OWN HOGS AND THEY
SERVICE AND DO THE MANAGEMENT OF
THE PRODUCTION SIDE.
>> JEFF SAUER REFERS TO THIS AS
CONTRACT FARMING AND IT'S COMMON
PRACTICE.
FARMERS DON'T HAVE TO PERSONALLY
TAKE ON ALL OF THE COSTS, DEBTS
AND RISK.
FOR RAMONA MOODY IT COMES BACK
TO NOT KNOWING HER NEIGHBOR.
>> AND THAT'S WHERE WE COME BACK
TO THERE'S AN LLC.
THEY CAN PICK UP AND MOVE ON
WHEN THE MOMENT IS RIGHT FOR
THEM, LEAVING US WITH THE
CLEAN-UP, WHATEVER THEY'VE LEFT
IN THEIR FACILITIES.
THAT ENDS UP BECOMING OUR
RESPONSIBILITY.
SO WHO HOLDS THEM ACCOUNTABLE?
>> TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THEY
ALL HAVE A PRECONCEIVED IDEA
THEY DON'T WANT IT.
THEY HAVE CAFOS?
THEIR BACKYARD CURRENTLY.
>> THERE IS ANOTHER FAY CAFO FIVE
MILES AWAY.
IT'S BEEN A FAMILY FARM SINCE 18
# 7.
TODAY, ACCORDING TO ITS DNR
PERMIT IT HAS JUST OVER 1,000
COWS.
ANDY MARSHALL DOESN'T TAKE ISSUE
WITH A PROVEN CAFO.
>> THIS TYPE OF MOVEMENT DIDN'T
OCCUR UNTIL PEOPLE BECAME AWARE
THISTHERE WAS THIS 26,000 HOG CAFO
THAT WANTED TO MOVE IN DOWN THE
ROAD.
PEOPLE WERE NOT SCRAMBLING TO
REGULATE FOUR CUBS, TO REGULATE
OTHER SMALLER FARMING
OPERATIONS.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST
MISCONCEPTION, MAYBE
INTENTIONALLY CREATED TO GET
FARMERS UP IN ARMS AND SAY WE
CAN'T BE FURTHER REGULATED.
>> THERE IS NO LIMIT ON THE
NUMBER OF ANIMALS A FARM CAN
HAVE.
HOWEVER, THIS IS CURRENTLY BEING
LITIGATED.
FOR JEFF SAUER LARGE-SCALE
FARMING IS THE FUTURE AND A
REALITY OF ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY.
>> I'M AN ADVOCATE OF ALL AG,
LARGE AND SCAWL.
>> THE NUMBERS AREN'T WORKING.
LAST YEAR WISCONSIN LOST TWO
DAIRY FARMS PER DAY.
U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
SONNY PERDUE MADE HEADLINES WHEN
HE STATED WHEN IT COMES TO
FAMILY FARMS THE BIG GET BIGGER
AND THE SMALL GET OUT.
FOR RAMONA MOODY, SHE DOESN'T
THINK THIS SHOULD COME AT A COST
TO HER.
>> I AGREE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO DO WHAT THEY WANT ON THEIR
OWN PROPERTY.
BUT IT SHOULDN'T AFFECT YOUR
NEIGHBORS.
>> REPORTING FROM BURNETT
COUNTY, I'M MARISA WOJCIK.
>> THE DISPUTE OVER THE PROPOSED
26,000-HEAD HOG OPERATION HAS
GOTTEN SO CONTENTIOUS THAT
THERE'S A LAWSUIT TO REMOVE THE
TOWN OF TRADE LAKE BOARD CHAIR
FROM HIS POSITION FOR FINANCIAL
CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN HIS
DEALINGS WITH THE PROJECT.
NEXT, WE TURN TO A LOOK AT SOME
COMPANION REPORTING ON CAFOs
IN WISCONSIN AND FOR THAT WE GO
TO WILL CUSHMAN, REPORTER FOR
WISCONTEXT, A PARTNER PROJECT
WITH WISCONSIN PUBLIC
TELEVISION.
HEY, WILL.
>>.
HOW'S IT GOING?
>> GOOD.
SO WHAT WILL YOUR REPORTING BE
LOOKING INTO IT?
>> WELL, AS WE SAW IN MARISA'S
PIECE, ONE OF THE MOST
CONTENTIOUS THINGS ABOUT THESE
LARGE LIVESTOCK FACILITIES IS
THE ODORS THAT CAN EMANATE FROM
THEM AND WHAT THAT CAN MEAN FOR
NEIGHBORS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO DO A DEEP DIVE
INTO ODORS, EVERYTHING ABOUT
ODORS, THE SCIENCE OF ODORS,
LIVESTOCK ODORS, HOW THEY DIFFER
BETWEEN LIVESTOCK AND SOME OF
THE SCIENCE INVOLVED IN ODOR
MANAGEMENT.
>> GOOD THING THIS IS A PRINTED
PIECE, RIGHT?
BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF AG HAS
WHAT'S REGARDED AS CONTROVERSIAL
UPDATES CONCERNING HOW POTENTIAL
ODORS FIGURE INTO THE SITING
APPLICATIONS AND YOU'RE LOOKING
AT THOSE UPDATES AS WELL?
>> THAT'S TRUE.
AND YES.
SO RIGHT NOW, DATCP USES AN ODOR
SCORE SHEET, WHERE FOR AN
APPLICANT FOR ONE OF THESE LARGE
FACILITIES, THEY HAVE TO FILL
OUT THE SCORE SHEET AND A WHOLE
BUNCH OF PRACTICES GET A NUMBER
AS TO A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER
THINGS RELATED TO THE FACILITY
AND ITS LOCATION AND WHERE
NEIGHBORS ARE.
THEY ARE LOOKING TO GO AWAY FROM
THAT WORKSHEET, WHICH SOMEONE AT
DATCP TOLD ME IS A BIT OF A
BLACK BOCK AND NOT VERY MANY
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT GOES INTO
IT AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT GOING
TO MANDATORY SETBACKS AS A WAY
TO CONTROL ODORS FROM THESE
LARGE FACILITIES.
>> BECAUSE REALLY HOW ARE ODORS
MEASURED?
IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE
REALLY SUBJECTIVE.
>> YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE.
I'VE SPOKEN TO SOME RESEARCHERS,
AND THERE ARE A WHOLE BUNCH OF
DIFFERENT WAYS THAT ODORS CAN BE
DETECTED.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT TOOLS AND
METHODS.
BUT ONE RESEARCHER THAT I SPOKE
TO FROM MINNESOTA WHO DOES A LOT
OF LIVESTOCK ODOR WORK SAID THE
GOLD STANDARD IS STILL THE HUMAN
NOSE AND THERE ARE VARIOUS WAYS
YOU CAN TRY TO GET LESS
SUBJECTIVE USING THE HUMAN NOSE
AS A STANDARD.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK INTO THAT.
>> YOU'RE ALSO LOOKING AT
WISCONSIN'S RIGHT TO FARM LAW.
WHAT IS THAT AND HOW DOES IT
FIGURE INTO CAFOs?
>> YEAH.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER PIECE OF THE
REPORTING THAT WE'RE DOING.
THE RIGHT TO FARM LAW IS A LAW
THAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
AREN'T VERY FAMILIAR WITH.
IT WAS PASSED IN WISCONSIN IN
THE EARLY 1980s AS RIGHT TO
FARM LAWS ALL OVER THE NATION
WERE PASSED AROUND THAT TIME.
WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT BECAUSE IT
FIGURES PROMINENTLY IN SOME OF
THESE NEIGHBOR DISPUTES.
IT REALLY PROVIDES FARMERS WITH
A LOT OF PROTECTION AGAINST
NUISANCE LAWTSZ LAWSUITS TO THE POINT
THAT SOME NEIGHBORS SAY IS
OVERREACH.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
WILL CUSHMAN, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> STARTING MONDAY, YOU CAN SEE
WILL'S REPORTING BY GOING TO